Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Ambiance Congo: May 28, 2017

WELCOME!

Welcome to another edition of Ambiance Congo.

I have noticed over the years that the word "CHOC", French for "SHOCK", has been used by many groups and individual artists. Choc is used as a part of a band's name such as Choc Stars or Tout Choc-Anti Choc Zaiko Langa-Langa, an album name such as Choc Choc 85 or Pare-Chocs, or a song name such as Liteya Choc. Franco also called one of his record labels by the name of CHOC CHOC CHOC.

So to explore this, I have compiled a few songs, records, and groups that include CHOC in the name.

Regardless of the reasons for or actual details of the history of the use of this word, this compilation includes some excellent music. hopefully, you will hear something that is new and wonderful to you or just recognize an old familiar song that you're happy to hear once again.

If you know the actual origins or history of the use of CHOC, please add a comment to share.

4 comments:

Shows with a theme are good and this was very good indeed - loved every minute of it.But are we any closer to the real meaning of the ubiquitous "choc".

On a similar vein, I've always been puzzled by the huge number of shout-outs for footballer-turned-politician George Weah on Congo CDs. I think he even appeared on a Cameroonian CD a few years back. Weird.

Re Nana and Baniel; you'll be pleased to know they're alive and well and doing some shows with Dizzy Mandjecku as Odemba OK Jazz Stars in Liverpool in the next couple of weeks. Last time they had Malage singing as well.

One last thing; have you heard Doudou Copa's new(ish) CD "Posso"? Very nice. Reddy Amisi sings on at least one track and some very tasteful songs throughout. Can't fault it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKvTp-04Ywk

Hi there, Dave. Thanks for your comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the program. I had a couple of people ask on Facebook if anyone had been able answer the "Choc" question, but no takers so far on the history.I know about Nana & Baniel working with Dizzy Mandjeku and I am very jealous that you will be able to attend a concert of the Odemba All Stars. Other than l'Orchestre Afrisa International, these masters are just about the only ones really striving to keep the old music alive. I've played clips from their concerts on youtube about a hundred times. They are great!Have not heard Posso. I will try to get it.Can you message me a source for CDs? Mine in Paris seems to have gone the way of most shops.Thanks

Sadly, the simple pleasure of buying a few Congolese CDs seems to be denied to us now.

VillageAfro went bump, Loomengo (who may or may not have been the ghost of VillageAfro) were OK for a while but I just had a bad experience with non-shipment and non-refund by them. Antiilles-Mizik are OK but shipping is eye-wateringly expensive and stock is dwindling to nothing. Amazon.fr have the odd newish Congolese CD for sale to European countries but probably not the US. A collector of Congolese music I know in Paris is kind enough to trawl the last few CD shops in Chateau Rouge to get me the odd new release. He found the last (and elusive) Tex Mambote CD for me recently, but reports from him suggest that the end is nigh. Apparently Diego is a mess and Afro Rythmes recently stopped selling CDs. I think Sonima may have gone too. In the UK Nzaya Nzayadio's recent CD was being sold from a hairdressers salon and a grocery shop in London - all other outlets having disappeared presumably.

On a brighter note, have you got your copy of Zaire '74 yet? I shall be entertaining myself this weekend with the triple-vinyl edition;

I did get an advance copy of Zaire '74, but only a digital copy for DJs. I was bit disappointed with how short the selections from Franco were, but the Tabu Ley set is quite good. Regardless, it's GREAT to have the African artists' sets finally available!Thanks for the update on shops. I have found all that you say to be true. I haven't checked into the status of the Cyriaque Bassoka shop in a while, but I think they are gone, too.It's easy to find the crate-digger reissues. Pan African Allstars has CDs months after they are released outside of USA, but that is much better than nothing at all.

Ambiance Congo broadcasts every other Sunday on WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Virginia, USA from 3:00-5:00 PM.
Listen live here:
www.wrir.org
Each radio program posted on this page is available on this page for only two weeks, but ALL programs are ALWAYS available via the Ambiance Congo Audio Archives link.
All other files or specials posted here have a limited download of 100.

Translate

About this program

Ambiance Congo is your Congolese music radio program. You can participate with requests, a shout-out or comments by leaving a comment here.
Ambiance Congo airs every other Sunday from 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR 97.3 FM in Richmond, Virginia USA.
You can catch it live on the net at http://wrir.org